ATEEZ is a band that snuck up on me. I had heard they were good, but for god knows what reason, I was resistant to learning about them
and listening to their music. I think it’s because they kept getting popular. Sue me, I guess, for not wanting to be “mainstream.”
Well, it’s okay now. I am an ATEEZ fan, for certain.
Both “Halazia” and “The Real” are perfect examples of the validation K-Pop can give young people. Both songs are about trying to be strong under pressure. “Halazia” expresses this with artistic, dystopian visuals mixed with more hip and modern visuals. “The Real” takes a more lighthearted approach, using schoolboy anime and Bollywood-style directing to communicate the same premise. Both videos are equally effective and show the range that one band can have.